A Little Cooking Inspiration
Photo Credit: Eating Well 101
This is definitely going to be a time in history that we never forget. Whatever you take from this COVID-19 experience, there is sure to be some positivity that stands out.
One highlight of the quarantine period has been spending more time in the kitchen. Prior to the COVID-19, our family was eating together, it just happened that we were eating out often. The quarantine period has motivated us to cook more, while also being flexible with our meal choices. We are doing our best to stretch out our grocery store visits, and have made better use of our freezer.
I’ve found that rotating some of the family favorite meals with new recipes has helped keep meals interesting. Check out some of my favorite meals that aren’t too complicated and will keep you and yours happy while you’re spending a lot more time at home. Click on the name of each meal to get the recipe.
Meal Ideas
BBQ Chicken Sliders - If I were to ask our youngest daughter what her favorite meal is, it would probably be BBQ Chicken Sliders. This is a family favorite that hasn’t gotten old yet. When making this meal, I recommend using your crockpot to cook the chicken throughout the day. This meal goes very well with a side salad and homemade french fries!
Chicken Alfredo - My kids and I are pasta lovers, so we take any opportunity to make a pasta dish. Normally, we eat some type of pasta dish once per week. It’s easy and doesn’t require a lot of prep time. Delish has created a tasty recipe. Depending on what you’re up for, you can leave out the chicken. I know we have been cooking a lot with chicken, so it’s nice to have a meatless dish every now and then.
Chicken Enchiladas Verdes - We eat Mexican food at least once a week, sometimes more frequently. The chicken enchiladas verdes by Real Simple are one of the recipes that I use the most often when making enchiladas. Keep in mind cooking the chicken takes up 20 or minutes of this meal preparation. If you have shredded chicken leftover or have a rotisserie chicken to use, that will save you a lot of time. Don’t forget to make a little pico de gallo to places on top of your enchiladas!
Garlic Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe - This recipe was received well by my family and it made for great leftovers. I made this dish while catching up with friends on a Zoom call. If you like chicken and potatoes, but are needing another way to change up the meal, Eating Well 101 came up with a simple recipe that you’re sure to enjoy.
Personal Pizza - There really isn’t anything better than making pizza and everyone gets the toppings that they want on their pizza. It’s the little things, right? When we make pizzas at home, we use Naan bread, pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese. You then make the pizza for 8 minutes and your dinner is ready! Depending on how you like your Naan bread cooked will determine how long you want to keep it in the oven. You can also use marinara sauce, mozzarella and any other toppings of your choice to make a tasty pizza. This is one of the quickest meals we make.
For most dinner meals, we have had a side salad too. I sure love leafy greens and try to incorporate them as much as possible when cooking.
Supporting the Locals
While we are staying home as much as possible, we are supporting one local restaurant per week. It’s now quite a treat to pick up food from a favorite restaurant. Boy do we enjoy those meals! Minimal dishes and you’re guaranteed to have a meal full of flavor all while helping out a small business! It doesn’t hurt that several restaurants are selling alcohol to go with the meals.
Leave a note in the comments with a local restaurant that you have supported during the quarantine or a favorite dish that you have been making while at home.